NST JULY

f0xh0les

Bleugh! 🤪 Hopefully not. 

DawnW

Yes please @grandmanerd

Betharooni

May I rejoin for July please @grandmanerd?

DawnW

Shopping day today so no NSD here. 

Not quite as hot as yesterday earlier in the day, I managed to get some stuff done outside this morning, but really far too hot now, really hope it is cooler tomorrow!

Looked after 2 smallest GCs after school as DD2 had booked her car in for its MOT. We played with the lego, did some drawing, ate cereal, fruit and lots of biscuits (well they did, I am trying to lose some excess weight!) and made some butter with leftover cream. I think we didn't shake it for quite long enough, but GD wants to try again either at home or when I have spare cream again.

Did lamb chops for dinner with veg from the garden. It is really too hot to cook, but it was nice to eat, and I need to get the freezer back under control so I can get home grown produce in.  I had to defrost it yesterday first thing as the drawers wouldn't close properly. I did an inventory while I was at it, and promptly banned OH and myself from buying stuff at the supermarket that needs to go in it!

Grateful today for fun with GCs, home grown veg and hopefully cooler weather coming up!

f0xh0les

NSD1 - bills and regular savers paid and monies shunted.  Budget set. 
Slept so badly last night I am knackered.  Fought sleep all day. Did not give in. Rah!
Was only 28 degrees here today, still uncomfortable for me.  

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#1

Did yoga again this morning - that's 2 days in a row! Norwegian done too, then after breakfast I put money in all my sinking funds. Headed to work to take thank you chocolate & a couple of birthday presents for colleagues. They were all pleased to see me, the class were too 😀

Walked to the PO & back after dinner, then did some weeding & tidying in the garden. In 2006, DH got DS1&2 to put their hands in wet cement, on top of a low wall round a raised bed. Whilst weeding the bed, I noticed DS1's hand prints had a lot of moss growing in it, so cleared it out & shed a few tears. Read a chapter of my book outside & ate an ice lolly. 

After tea, took photos of my latest finished gonk & did 100 skips (50 forwards, 50 backwards). A few rows of knitting done, then a long bath.

Grateful for hugs/high 5s from my class, hugs from some staff, time outside, getting some exercises done

weenancyinAmerica

Would like to try again. Looking like surgery later this summer on my back, but until then, just keep plodding along.

Rowan9

Thrifty your colleagues and pupils would have loved your visit. 

Had a good long walk with DH and dog yesterday by race course. Enjoyed seeing the horses coming and going as we had a cup of tea near the stables. Cooler weather up here. 

Heading off on the train today for a day out so we are looking forward to that. On holiday for couple weeks but not going away. 

Yesterday was low spend £2 for two teas from a vending machine. I didn’t bring a flask but am ok with that spend. I’m getting there!
meals have all been from stocks and we are ok for a while yet. Will just be bread, milk and bananas needed. 

Grateful for cool weather, lovely horses, appreciating that my 11 year old dog is in good health

grandmanerd

Wednesday 2nd July 2025

Happy Canada Day (belated - it was yesterday)

Here are a few ideas to keep children happy during the holidays Chicken Scratch Diaries
1    Water balloon or squirt gun fight This would happen at some point every year in our house - 'fight' was outside, but I was the only mum stupid enough to let them in my kitchen to refill buckets. On a whim, I bought a multi pack of assorted water guns (think alien space guns) for DS2's birthday when he was at sixth form college. Not sure if it would be a success or not but when I came in from work, they (DS2 and 2 friends) had the bath filled to a depth of 6" for ease of refilling. 

2     Pavement Chalks for drawing, following a trail (with native American type signs) or teach them hopscotch

3     Play under the sprinkler or in the paddling pool If you don't have a paddling pool you can use buckets, bowls and any suitable receptacle to make stepping stones (or somewhere to rest and soak your feet)

4     Make ice lollies/ yoghurt ice lollies  I used to make up some cordial and make 'jubblies' in plastic cups

5     Build a fort or den outside  Use garden furniture  or the clothesline and sheets - indoor dens work as well

6     Have an outdoor movie night 

7     Go on a nature scavenger hunt

8     Go to the swimming pool We have some places with outdoor paddling pools/ fountains

9     Visit the library for books and check for free summer activities (some are limited numbers and may be full). 

10    Local Country Park Ours is fairly well appointed - lots of birds and yachts on the lake, bird hides in the woods, an excellent playground and a good cafe (I've only had ice cream). This weekend we are to be visited by 'herds' (they look like life size animal puppets - think War Horse - seen recently in Liverpool). They are expecting crowds - only blue badge holders allowed on their car park, Sports Village for everyone else. I think they are now the venue for the 'beach' which used to happen on the Civic Square - they set up a circular berm which is filled with sand, there are a couple of fairground rides and 3 donkeys for rides (across the car park and back). There was also a park just outside Bolton (5 bus stops before) which was large and more interesting.

I think the 'Bear Hunt' bears which have been in Southport are now moving across to Altrincham and there's a food festival in Manchester. Keep an eye on local media and the internet for things happening locally. If your grandchildren are ferried around by car a bus ride might be a novelty (especially if you get the upstairs front seats). Building sites and roadworks amuse small children.

I'll add more ideas including adult and staycation ones but feel free to chip in. Don't schedule rigidly but have some things up your sleeve for when plans fall apart and people are getting tetchy. 

grandmanerd

Yesterday was productive but looks 'messy' atm. I set up a sorting table and moved pills, toiletries and stationery across as they turned up (I already had 4 or 5 boxes which I'd filled by picking things out of the pile. I'm hoping with a bit more work I can set up my bedside trolley (3 layers) to keep by my bed/ chair. I've identified a bag (present from DS1) which will sit beside me so I'm not constantly misplacing my phone/ purse/ glasses (1 out of 4 currently in service - there might be a second pair in my handbag).

Clothes went in and out of the machine and on the line and back in (rain threatened several times but I can't cope with more hanging around indoors), pots were gathered and washed. I cleared another 2 feet of floor space and under a chair and then moved the couch back at one end and riddled stuff out from underneath.

It was quiet as DS3 and Beloved left early to meet their friends at the airport. They didn't have fun, it took their friends 7 hours to get through immigration, including 2 hours 'waiting' and another hour 'waiting' whilst their bags were searched, followed by questioning.

Grateful for peace and quiet, progress, finding things to eat (need to contact bank as several payments have been denied. I did give them my updated phone number (they may have phoned me to check payments). I need to order toilet rolls. I have found 3 ankle support wraps but still only have one elderly insole (there's about a six foot square still to go but it's mostly larger items - boxes sitting on chairs and fallen off ones and one upside down one - and the majority of the small stuff has been moved